Lions Clubs International Foundation is supporting Lions in the Horn of Africa to provide famine relief by providing a grant of US$15,000 to help with the procurement and distribution of food and other necessities.

Lions in neighboring countires are quickly responding by providing aid. Lions have formed a Lions Relief Team to coordinate emergency relief efforts and are collaborating with the Red Cross, UNICEF and other relief agencies in Kenya. Lions are also beginning to work with organizations in Ethiopia.

Lions are helping the most vulnerable, who are children in the area of Northern Kenya and Dadaab, which is the largest refugee camp for the Somalia victims. Lions from Ethiopia are also assisting in the relief efforts. Dadaab, a camp designed for 90,000 people, now houses around 440,000 refugees, and approximately 1,000 moer are arriving each day.
Somalia is experiencing the worst drought in 60 years, resulting in dehydration and famine. According to the United Nations, 3.2 million of the 7.5 million people in Somalia are in need of immediate lifesaving assistance. Already more than 29,000 children under the age of five have died.

Lions around the world are helping, and LCIF has established a designated fund, “Aid for Africa 2011,” for Lions wishing to support these efforts.
Some examples of Lions’ generous giving to LCIF in support of this effort include:

Lions in Kenya have raised an additional US$10,000

One Lions club in Germany has pledged US$7,100

Swedish Lions are donating US$7,7000 from their Swedish Lions Catastrophe Fund. Lions in Sweden are mobilizing, raising funds on the streets. Lions also worked with the largest evening newspaper in the country, Aftonbladet, for a free ad and mention among organizations helping in Africa.

###

Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International, the largest service club organization in the world with 1.35 million members in 206 geographic areas and countries. Over the last 10 years, LCIF has provided US$50 million for disaster relief worldwide. LCIF has been named the #1 NGO according to a Financial Times study. Learn more about LCIF online at www.lcif.org.